Veronica

Chapter 4: Jasmine

“Ganda ng anak ko ah! That’s my baby girl!” pang aasar pa ni Dad, “ugh! You know I hate wearing these!” sabay hatak ng floral dress ko pababa, “Mag tiis ka! Ginusto mo yan eh!” I can't stand wearing these talaga! Nasanay na siguro ako sa skinny jeans, hoodie, minsan sweat shirt.

I looked at myself through the full body sized mirror in my sister’s room, I look like my ate, so damn much! I fixed the dress that’s ending two inches above my knee, I put on some light make up and peachy lip tint that matches my cheek’s shade and my pink slightly floral dress, and wore my white sandals, I got Ate’s purse and put my phone, lip tint, some powder, and breath spray.

“Anak! Tawag ka ni Zue—este Manuel!” sigaw ni Dad sa labas, I took a last glance of myself in the mirror, dahan dahan ako lumabas ng kwarto I saw Dad talking to Manuel, scratch that, it’s more like threatening?

“May tiwala ako sayo, pero huwag na huwag mo subukan mahalikan ang anak ko! Alam ko naman na mag boyfriend kayo pero no kiss, and no touch, okay? And make sure not to pop her cherry okay!” may pa duro duro pang nalalaman si Dad,

“yes, tito! I’ll be bringing her back before the clock strikes ten.” He then stood up, “Veronica! Kanina ka pa ba diyan?” he asked while looking at me, hindi ko mapigilan na purihin ang kaniyang kagwapuhan sa suot niya, he’s wearing a white, red, and blue striped relaxed fit polo, faded skinny jeans, and white shoes, he looked like a teenager Zeus.

“Make sure to take her home by ten, okay? And pleas—“ pinutol ko na nag sasabihin niya, “Dad, we’re going okay?” lumapit ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi, “Take care kids!” hinatak ko na si Manuel palabas, “and Veronica?” napalingon kami kay Dad, “huwag mo’ng pa iiskurin yan ha!” I glared at him, “Dad!”

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“I'LL get Ceasar salad nalang.” We've decided to eat first, para naman daw mayroon ako'ng gana sa pupuntahan namin, hindi ko naman alam kung saan, surprise daw eh. “Mashed potatoes and chicken please.” After he said his order, he looked at me, “any progress?” what? Does he know? Pano? I can’t help but to furrow my eyebrows,

“your memory? Any progress?” akala niya siguro di ko naintindihan, that made me sigh in relief, cons of having two college deploma was having an over active brain, time to act, again, “wala pa naman, I can't even remember you.” He looked sad, more like disappointed? “akala ko pa naman,” he seems relly sad about it.

We've talked a lot of things such us what I like—scratch that, what Veronica likes, and what he likes, what he don't and how they met, “andito na tayo!” he said happily, “children’s park? Why are we even here?” this is really not my forte, I find no fun in this, I hate kids! I mean I don’t really ‘hate-hate’ more like I get easily irritated by malikot at mgaingay na bata! “Dito tayo unang nagkita,” tinuro niya ang parke,

“Remember? You were with your neighbor's daughter becaused they asked you to look after their daughter because may business meeting sila at walang mapag-iiwanan?” bumaba kami ng sasakyan niya, “and there,” turo niya sa slide, “ that's where you saw me, with my neice, na-love at first sight ka pa nga sakin!” hinampas ko siya sa braso, “as if!” I laughed, knowing ate, maybe that happened.

“Since when ka nagpunta sa plantation?” I asked, trying to get some informations, “two weeks na ako 'don nag may tumawag sakin at nalaman ko ang nangyari sayo” we sat down on the swings, he picked up a stone and threw it, “ I was kinda furstrated” that made my brows furrow,

“Why?” I asked curiously, “ wala man lang kasi'ng nagsabi sa'kin na nawawala ka! Nalaman ko na lang nasa hospital ka pala!” He threw some stones again, “anyways, it happened ang importante ay magaling ka na, may Renegade nga lang.” sabay sayaw niya pa, he's always like this, making fun of my alibi!